Planning group proceeds with road project despite local protest

FALLBROOK -- Despite protests from local residents, the
Fallbrook Community Planning Group decided Monday to move forward
with a recommendation of plans to build a road connecting the
Sycamore Heights and Sycamore Ranch housing developments.

The planning group voted unanimously to extend Knotwood Way from
Gird Road to Linda Vista Drive. The 15-member group acts as an
advisory committee on Fallbrook development to the San Diego County
Board of Supervisors.

Harry Christiansen, sub-committee chair of the group's
circulation committee, said the road would eliminate a 300-foot gap
between the developments, linking them together.

Plans for the road were drafted 20 years ago as part of the
Fallbrook Community Plan -- a local development blueprint --
although local residents said they did not anticipate the road when
they purchased their homes.

"I feel sorry for them but it was planned all the way,"
Christiansen said.

Extending Knotwood creates an east-west corridor, giving the
North County Fire District more access to area homes. Construction
on the road is expected to begin between 2003-04 or earlier,
depending on funding sources, said Steve Ron, project manager for
the San Diego County Department of Public Works.

Sycamore Ranch resident Aileen Erard expressed concern for local
residents who take evening strolls on Knotwood. If the road is
built, it will bring more traffic into the area, reducing safety
for pedestrians, she said.

"There are no sidewalks," Erard said. "There's very little
lighting here. There's going to be some accidents, and there are
going to be some people hurt."

Community member Dan Jones said he was disappointed that the
group did not heed complaints from local residents. A dozen people
spoke out against the road at the meeting Monday night.

"The people that came down to voice their concerns and opinions
had absolutely no say and no effect because it was very obvious the
decision had already been made," Jones said.

Christiansen said plans for the road were in place long before
the Sycamore Ranch development was built. The community needs the
road to allow access to more areas, he said.

"It's not a road to their neighborhood. It's a road to one whole
area of South Fallbrook," Christiansen said.

Once the road is built, Erard is worried that commuters will use
Knotwood as an alternate route to Highway 76, she said.

"As soon as people figure out they can get from Mission to Gird
without having to go on 76, this road down here will be a
nightmare," Erard said.

The planning group also approved plans to build a new sidewalk
on Fallbrook Street between Heald Lane and Alturas Road. They
supported county plans to install a center-left-hand-turn lane on
Stagecoach Lane in front of Fallbrook High School to alleviate
traffic congestion before and after-school.